Deadly building collapse blamed on renovation work

Shiv Sena worker accused of causing 17 deaths by weakening pillars

A Shiv Sena worker was arrested by Mumbai police on Wednesday in connection with the deadly building collapse in suburban Ghatkopar on Tuesday, according to media sources.

According to an ANI report, the residents of the four-storey Siddhi-Sai Cooperative Housing Society, which collapsed on Tuesday morning, killing 17 people, alleged that the pillars of the building were weakened by renovation work being carried out at a ground-floor nursing home owned by Shiv Sena worker Sunil Shitap.

Shitap has been booked under IPC sections 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told ANI, “Prima facie, it is revealed that the accused was carrying out illegal renovation in the building. At this juncture, it will not be appropriate to give other details as the investigation is underway and available information needs verification.”

Meanwhile, rescue efforts were continuing. Provisions for temporary accommodation for the affected people have been made by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in three nearby municipal schools, but most survivors preferred to stay at their relatives’ homes, PTI reported.